Birth & Baby Network
For parents across Tyneside

Tag Archives: antenatal classes in newcastle

Your Third Trimester

February 4, 2013

bump2

Your 3rd trimester – From 28 weeks

This could be the time when you well and truly feel like you are making a human being, as your bump gets bigger and your baby kicks and wriggles. It can be a great time to bond with your baby.

How you might be feeling?

  • You could be enjoying those wriggles and kicks from your baby
  • There may be more aches and pains in your back and hips as your body changes to accommodate your growing baby
  • Your tiredness could return as your body adapts to carrying the extra weight of your weight and amniotic fluid. You may also find that your sleep is being affected as you struggle to get comfortable and you may need frequent trips to the loo at night as well
  • Some pregnant women start to feel sick again – this could be linked to your tiredness and/or any indigestion as your expanding womb means there’s less room in your stomach
  • Your growing womb can also lead to heartburn
  • You might feel breathless, as there can be less room for your lungs to expand. But when your baby starts to settle into your pelvis, this should ease
  • You might start to experience Braxton Hicks contractions – mild tightenings of your uterus, which are thought to help your body prepare for labour

What’s happening in your body?

Your baby is growing, growing, growing – starting to get fat, his brain is growing too so your baby’s head will be getting bigger. He will grow from about 36cm long to about 51cm at birth and his weight can go from about 1.5lbs to 7.5lbs at birth – although this will vary a lot.

His lungs will maturing during the third trimester so he can breathe for himself when he is born. His liver and kidneys also develop and he will start to open his eyes.

You may experience…

Backache
You will be producing the hormone Relaxin, which help to soften the pelvic joints and ligaments in preparation for the birth of your baby. This can be the cause of some backache – it can be worth seeing a chiropractor to ease any discomfort.

 

Stretchmarks
Not everyone gets stretchmarks and some pregnant women will only start to get them right at the end of their pregnancy.

According to Daphne Metland from Babycentre: there’s no real way to prevent stretchmarks, although you can minimise them by eating well, trying not to gain too much weight and drinking plenty of water.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
About 50% of pregnant women will experience Carpal Tunnel Syndrome some pain and/or tingling in their hands, with numbness in the fingers. It is thought to be caused by swelling which puts pressure on the median nerve.

Itchy skin
It can be quite normal for some women to experience a mild degree of itchy skin, especially on the bump as their skin stretches. However, it is always important to get this checked out with your midwife, GP or pop into your pregnancy assessment unit just in case it is Obstetric Cholestasis, which is a rare but serious condition.

 

Swelling
Swelling in your ankles and your hands is really common in the third trimester, especially towards the end of the day when you are tired and you may have been on your feet a fair bit. If you are concerned about it or if the swelling is sudden or starts to affect your legs, hands and or face – get it checked out, just in case it is pre-elampsia.

A range of emotions
Your emotions can range from happiness and excitement to feeling scared and uncertain about the birth of your baby. You might be teary and you could be volatile with changing mood swings.

Tiredness and lack of decent sleep can have an affect but if you feel low, it is worth mentioning it to your midwife as it is possible to feel depressed in pregnancy.

It can also be worth looking at how well you are eating, whether you are stressed with work, whether you are anxious due to a previous birth experience? Talking it through with someone can be really useful, which is why going to some good antenatal classes, where you will have the time to ask questions, is worth the investment.

 

Your midwife appointments

  • These take place at about 28 weeks, 31 weeks, 34 weeks, 36 weeks, 38 weeks, 40 weeks and at 41 weeks, if your baby hasn’t arrived by then
  • They will involve routine tests – checking your blood pressure and your urine, measuring your bump and listening to your baby’s heartbeat
  • You will be offered a blood test to rule out gestational diabetes
  • The position of your baby is checked – making sure he’s not breech or lying sideaway across your abdomen

Also…

This is the time to think about:

  • writing your Birth Plan
  • attending antenatal classes - don’t worry about leaving it late as I never turn anyone away, I have waiting lists and I am flexible so I can provide one to one sessions or run additional sessions
  • dealing with any anxiety, especially if it is to do with the birth of your baby. I can provide support through one to one sessions or through my antenatal classes
  • hiring your TENS machine and, if you are planning a homebirth, you may need to book a birth pool too

Tips to help you in the 3rd trimester

  • Eat well
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Listen to your body and rest when you need to
  • Get checked out if you feel unwell, if something changes or if you are concerned about your baby

Posted by in 3rd trimester, antenatal classes, birth, caesareans, pregnancy Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Reply

Pregnant women feel unsupported by the NHS

January 21, 2013

test

According to the Royal College of Midwives pregnant women in the UK are feeling unsupported with little opportunity to see a regular midwife throughout their pregnancy.

The RCM states that 4 in 10 women see up to 10 midwives during their pregnancy – that’s a different one per visit, which prevents women from building up a relationship and confidence in one midwife. This could potentially have an effect on choosing a homebirth or just feeling reassured and informed throughout their pregnancy.

In 2011, the birth-rate in the UK was 808,000 and midwives are now stretched with busy workloads.

Tips to get the support you need…

  1. I can’t ensure you see the same midwife throughout your pregnancy and neither can you but if you need information and reassurance – go with a list of questions to help you feel confident and less flustered, especially if your midwife is busy.
  2. Book onto to some good antenatal classes – your antenatal teacher can provide the time to listen and answer your questions to help you feel more informed, reassured and supported as you prepare for the birth of your baby.
  3. Book a doula – for ongoing support and information throughout your pregnancy. A doula will not provide medical support and will not replace the visits to your midwife but she can provide continuity of care with information and reassurance to help you prepare for the birth of your baby.
  4. If you ever feel that something isn’t quite right with you or your baby – get it checked out! Either see your community midwife or go to your local Pregnancy Assessment Unit. You will not be wasting anyone’s time and it is important to either pick up any potential problem or to provide you with reassurance.

Posted by in 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, antenatal classes, birth, birth support, doula, homebirth, pregnancy Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Reply

Why antenatal classes are worth the investment…

January 7, 2013

bump2

A certain TV presenter has once again waged war against a certain national charity about its ability, or lack of, to properly prepare women for birth. I am not going to defend the charity as it let me down badly, which is one of the reasons I stopped teaching for them. However, as an antenatal teacher, the Celeb’s words did make me want to defend my job, which I love and which I am dedicated to.

My aim is to inform and to empower, to provide confidence in expectant parent’s abilities to handle the birth of their baby. I aim to equip parents with information and skills to have a positive birth experience – whether it is sans drugs, with all the drugs or by caesarean. Birth is birth, it is still the first time parents and their baby meet each other, and all births can be as positive as each other and it would be wrong to say that one is better than the other.

Through my antenatal classes I aim to provide support in pregnancy so that parents can gain information and ask questions to help them feel ready for the birth of their baby, so they know different ways of working with and handling the contractions, so they feel confident about seeking support when they feel they need it, so they don’t panic if labour is longer, tougher or more complicated than they thought it would be.

It’s about coping strategies; it’s about assertiveness and confidence rather than medical knowledge; it’s about doing what feels right for them so they feel comfortable, safe and supported; it’s about asking questions and getting the information and support they need in labour; It’s about information to normalise labour and birth – what to expect from their midwife, whether at home or in hospital; it’s about what to expect if a Caesarean is needed; it’s about what to expect when they first meet their baby; it’s about feeling  a sense of control if they are in the middle of a busy maternity ward.

This supplements the medical support provided to women by their midwives, which can be about nine appointments throughout a straightforward pregnancy. So I have the time to provide this additional support.

I am not a midwife, nor do I want to be a midwife. I am trained to provide childbirth education, I am experienced in teaching and listening to parents in pregnancy and after they have had their baby. I get to spend more time supporting expectant and new parents than I ever would as a midwife.

Midwives are awesome – they support women in labour, they catch babies, they keep women and their partners informed and calm for those hours during labour and birth, they constantly juggle and they work bloody long hours – what I do supports and complements this.

Labour is emotional, it is powerful and raw and each birth experience is unique to every woman. Some labours are easy, some are bloody tough and, as an antenatal teacher, it is not my job to tell expectant parents what to do or what it will be like. It is not my job to tell women that they can do it without drugs if they can’t or don’t want to. But what I can do is provide balanced information, a forum for open discussion and simple but effective coping skills so parents can use their breathing to stay calm and feel able to ask any questions they need to in order to feel better informed and reassured.

Good antenatal classes are important and they do make a difference!

Posted by in antenatal classes, birth, doula, pregnancy Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

1 comment

Managing anxiety in pregnancy

October 22, 2012

 

anxiety in pregnancy

 

Anxiety can be a normal emotion to experience at times during pregnancy but anxiety isn’t pleasant if it is ongoing, so it is important for parents to ease this anxiety, to identify where it is coming from and to learn how to manage it.

Anxiety can come from a number of places:

  • Financial or relationship worries
  • Health concerns
  • Concern about your ability to birth or to look after your baby
  • Stress at work
  • Worry as a result of a previous birth experience
  • Or you might not know the cause and feel confused about where your anxiety is coming from – focusing on it might enable you to work out what is bothering you.

 

How to deal with anxiety

The first hurdle can be to admit you are feeling anxious and to work out where the anxiety is coming from.  Most of us, when anxious, will distract ourselves and try to make it go away but it rarely does if it is based on a deep fear or worry and it has a habit of festering until we have no choice but to deal with it.

  • Face it head on – stop trying to ignore it and allow yourself some space to think about your stress. Allow those thoughts to flood your head and see if you can work out exactly what is making you feel anxious. It can also be useful to write your thoughts down, to help you plan how to identify and manage your anxiety.
  • It can be useful to learn some simple breathing techniques to manage and ease feelings of anxiety. This can slow down your breathing, heading off any panic and giving you something positive to focus on.
  • Talk through your worries or concerns with someone – this can be helpful to just let it all out and clear your head. It can also be a useful way to think about formulating a plan or someway of managing the cause of your anxiety.

 

Why does anxiety need to be dealt with?

Because pregnancy can be emotional enough without added stress and anxiety is rarely positive – it makes you feel ill, snappy, tense and generally unhappy.

Stress and anxiety can raise your blood pressure, cause panic attacks and affect your sleep.

If you can face up to your anxiety and what is worrying you, you may be able to find a way of managing it and seeking out more support if you need it.

 

Support

Sometimes talking it through with someone who isn’t closely involved can be useful. A large part of my job as an antenatal teacher is to listen especially if you are anxious or worried about the birth or becoming a parent, or you are experiencing anxiety due to other factors and want to learn how to manage it.

Antenatal classes and relax & breathe sessions are perfect in pregnancy for information, support and reassurance. I can  also provide one-to-one support to focus on identifying and managing anxiety, which works really well for women who are expecting another baby and would like to debrief their first labour.

If anxiety is also making you feel isolated and vulnerable, seeking out some help and talking it through can make a huge difference.

Posted by in pregnancy Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Reply

A catch-up from Rae

October 20, 2012

I’m Rae, 36 years old and married to Peter. I am a mum to two sons, Henry aged 4 and Zachary aged 18 months, and step-mum to two girls aged 15 and 12. I’m also pregnant with my third child.

16th September 2012 – 31 weeks

 It’s been a busy few weeks… I’ve had my 28 week midwife appointment which was fine. It was also hard work as I had to take both boys (I feel I should take this opportunity to apologise to my midwife: sorry Julie!) who were interested in everything, particularly the taking of blood. All is well with me and baby, so all being well, next appointment is at 34 weeks.

Henry started school at the beginning of this month; a huge milestone in any family. Thankfully, so far, it all seems to be going remarkably smoothly. He’s settled in well and is enjoying it. Long may it last…. It’s funny now that the holidays are over and people are back at school and work. I’m struggling a bit with the whole ‘stay at home mum’ thing – it was never what I planned to do. I need to find a routine that involves getting out and seeing/talking to people. Which would be easier if I wasn’t so tired all the time. With all the stress at work this year, my confidence has taken a bit of a battering, so I’m not quite sure what the future holds – which is more than a little scary. I’m not enjoying the playground chat/making friends at the school gate thing either: I’m not good at small talk at the best of times, and I’m so tired mostly that I don’t have the energy. So I’m sure I come across as stuck up and over-opinionated (I’d like to think I’m not either, but who knows??)

I’ve started thinking about the birth a little bit and have dug out my previous birth plan so I can update it. I don’t think much will change to be honest, but I’ll feel better knowing it’s done. I’m thinking about packing a hospital bag too – again, just so I know it’s done. Obviously I hope that it won’t be needed, but I can do it and then forget about it. I’ve started seeing my wonderful chiropractor to make sure everything is properly aligned for a smooth and straightforward birth.

She’ll also come out whilst I’m in labour if it’s needed but I’m hoping that, like last time, there just won’t be time for that. It’s also time to dig out my birth ball – I’ve spent far too long lounging on a sofa which can’t be good. Mind you, I also seem to spend half my life on my hands and knees picking up Lego – that’s got to be helping surely?

I’m going to a Birth Preparation day this Saturday which I’m *really* looking forward to – both in terms of spending time thinking about a new baby and in meeting other expectant parents.

5th October 2012 – 34 weeks

 Yikes! I can’t believe I’m 34 weeks already! Really? How did that happen?

 I’m feeling pretty good all in all – though I suspect I’m coming down with a cold, which is no good as I can’t dose up on drugs. Otherwise though, it’s just little niggles like needing the loo lots which is leading to frequent night time bathroom trips. My chiropractor reckons the baby has dropped a bit now, which may be the case as I’m finding I’m getting less breathless (and might explain the more frequent loo trips too). I’ve got a MW appointment on Wednesday, so I’ll see what she says….

I attended a birth preparation day last month which was extremely useful. It was great to meet other parents-to-be, but also to remind myself about birth, what happened, how it happens and what my options are. I think good antenatal education is vastly under-rated by lots of people unfortunately. I can’t imagine going into birth without having thought about how I’d like things to be, what my preferred options are etc. Of course, you can’t stage manage birth, and sometimes Mother Nature has ideas that differ to your own – but I’d rather be a bit prepared and have thought ‘what if’. So whilst I’m planning a home birth, I’ve also thought about what will happen if I need to transfer in to hospital for any reason.

I’m also starting Relax & Breath next week. I did this with Zachary and it was really helpful to give myself an hour a week to concentrate on the forthcoming birth – and the reality of another child in the family! I also found the breathing really useful when in labour (though I’ll be honest – the gas and air helped lots too!)

Now Henry is at school, I’m spending lots of time with Zachary, which is lovely. I’m starting to worry a little about how he will take to the new arrival. I know this is a really common worry – but I still get a little anxious. I just hope the three of them grow up to be great friends.

Tuesday 9th October

Just a quick update… well, after going on about having a hugely straightforward pregnancy, I’ve spent what feels like most of the weekend on the CTG at the hospital! I’d not been feeling the baby move much, so, rather than sit and worry, thought I’d better get it checked out. Spent lots of time on a monitor and drinking iced water (which is meant to wake baby up and get them moving) and then more of the same on Monday. Consensus is that baby is OP (back-to-back) which is why I’m not feeling movements so much. That’ll learn me to slouch on the sofa. I really *must* get my birthing ball inflated…

I then almost fainted at soft play this morning – that was nice and embarrassing! The staff at The Tree House did look after me though. SO I am now officially fed up and ready for the next six weeks to pass smoothly (and where can I claim a free house-keeper from please??)

Monday 15th October – 35 weeks

I’m really fed up now. This is a new feeling for me – I’ve not felt this way before; but I’m fed up of being pregnant, I’m feeling like a beached whale and I’m struggling to cope with being very pregnant and caring for two small (ish) children. I’m also well aware, it’ll probably be harder still once the baby actually arrives! (And obviously, I don’t want the baby to arrive until they are ready). I’m also concerned about how a new baby will affect the family dynamics: I’m holding dear to everything people say about adapting. I’m sure there will be rocky moments, but being a family of five (plus two!) will work for us.

 The birth pool will be arriving in the next couple of weeks – so everything is starting to feel very real - car seat is out of the loft, emergency transfer bags packed and birth plan nearly finished! So really, almost all organised…. I need to contact people and work out who might be able to look after Henry & Zachary when I’m in labour. It was easy before, as Henry just went to the childminder as usual, but with no childcare, not much family (and working full time) it’s tricky to sort out.

The midwife is coming to the house this week to drop off the homebirth kit (everything the midwives might need whilst I’m in labour) and to go through protocols and so on. Then after that, my entonox will be delivered too. My 28 week bloods showed that my platelet count was slightly low (normal is over 150, mine are at 120). A repeat test shows they haven’t dropped any further. I’ve been offered an appointment with an obstetrician to discuss/double check thing, which I’ve decided to accept. From what I can tell, whilst 120 is lower than ‘average’, it’s not low enough to cause concern, so it should just be a case of monitoring and hoping it doesn’t drop further. I really don’t want anything to scupper this homebirth!

I went to have a professional bump shot done today and they’ll do another one once baby is here. I can’t wait to see the photos. And I’ve just realised that it’s my baby shower this weekend…

Posted by in pregnancy Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Reply

← Older Posts

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,071 other followers

Blog Posts


Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Customized San Kloud by Theme.fm.
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 2,071 other followers